5 things you’ve just gotta do in New Zealand

It’s the adventure capital of the world, a land of indescribable beauty and the place where ULTIMATE bucket lists are made. So where do you start with a ‘what to do in New Zealand’ list? Right about here. These are the 5 things you’ve just gotta do.

1 – CATCH A THRILL AT SHOTOVER RIVER

Shotover River in Queenstown

A 75-kilometre long stretch of water with rushing rapids is just asking to be taken on by the adventure-lover, right? At Shotover River in Queenstown, you will literally have the ride of your life as you zip down the canyons in a jet boat, making sharp turns and doing 360 spins. This, folks, is not an experience to be missed. And if that isn’t enough to make your heart drop to your stomach, head upstream to the Canyon Swing, where you will jump from a cliff 109 metres high, flying over the river on a 60m freefall before completing a few massive swings. With over 70 swing styles, you can do everything from sit in a deck chair to hang upside down from your feet to shooting down a slide.

2 – TAKE IN THE BEAUTY OF MILFORD SOUND

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is New Zealand’s top tourist destination and it’s not hard to see why. With incredible landscapes of waterfalls, mirrored waters, tall peaks and lush rain forests, this fjord has been named by some as the 8th Wonder of the World (not to mention one of the key filming locations for Lord of the Rings). You’ll spot incredible wildlife like penguins, whales, dolphins and the rare species of blue duck which is native to New Zealand.

3 – GO DEEP IN THE WAITOMO CAVES

Waitomo Caves

While I’m not one for creepy-crawlies, a visit to the Waitomo Caves should be high on everyone’s bucket list. The site is home to thousands of glow worms, which are native to New Zealand and radiate their beautiful glow throughout the dark caves. Take a boat tour through Glow-worm Grotto in two million year old caves and marvel at the glowing strands of worms overhead.

4 – HIKE THE GLACIERS

Franz Josef glacier

Located on the South island’s West Coast, this destination for adventure seekers offers up twin glaciers for you to hike: Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier. Want to up your bucket list game? Opt to do a heli-hike tour of Franz Josef glacier, where they’ll take an exciting, scenic flight to the top then strap on their gear and head out on a two-hour guided hike of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Make sure you pack your camera, because this hike will take your senses into overdrive.

5 – GO FOR A DIP IN THE HOT SPRINGS

Hanmer Springs

After experiencing all of the heart-pounding adventure activities that New Zealand has to offer, take some time to relax in the warm water of the natural springs scattered throughout the country. On trips through New Zealand, travellers go on an included excursion to Hanmer Springs, a legendary hot spring location set amidst forests and mountains. The freshwater hot pools range in temperature from 28-42 degrees Celsius, so you can relax your muscles after a few days of climbing glaciers and luging down mountains.

Life’s an adventure – make it count with absolutely #NOREGRETS

Contiki holidays bring you many of such fascinating trips. Contiki is the world leader in youth travel experiences, a brand that is all about discovery, epic moments and making every second count. Their journeys unlock the local way of life in each and every destination we visit, and with over 300 trips in more than 50 countries, they see every day as the start of a new adventure.Contiki is a part of a joint initiative with The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation established by The Travel Corporation to encourage sustainable tourism. Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s family of brands, the TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come. To date, TreadRight has helped support more than 35 sustainable tourism projects worldwide.